If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Whats the best El Cheapo setup?

Hi all! I have a friend without a lot of cash to spend, what would be the best and cheapest M/B/case/CPU set-up that he could over clock to around 600-700 mhz. Please include cooling requirements. Thanks.

Aslo are you talking a complete system with memory, hard drive, CD, sound, video, motherboard, CPU, case, cooling, keyboard, mouse, and modem or are you upgrading a system?

The integrated motherboards from VIA should be hitting the market soon and will give a cheap motherboard with sound, video, and modem/network for both Socket370 and SocketA systems. They will likely be under $100 and still have an AGP slot for future upgrades.

------------------
The COMPUTER is your FRIEND!
Happiness is manditory.

Thanks for the reply's, well I know what to get 'em for ram/hd etc. just am clue-less to over clocking . How about celerons? Also I geuss I should not trust Bob Barker to teach me Spanish (he coined El Cheapo)

Actually that's true. My stupid Collie has no money at all and today my wife bought her a bone-shaped dog toy chest for $30 shipped. But, somewhat more seriously, "pero" means "but" and "perro" means dog. So what I actually said was: "Cheap is very good for me but I don't have much money". I really meant to use "porque", which means since or because. Like I said, it's been 25 years since my last Spanish class!

Give some more info. Will it be a gaming rig or an internet surfing rig. All-in-ones are fine for surfing and normal office style apps, but bite the bag for gaming. So, what's it gonna be used for? I promise I won't attempt to answer you in Spanish!

Dave_B, basically surfing, and office apps, the odd flight sim game. He presently has a 133mhz machine which is slow as mollasses. So I figure if he's going to go cheap he might as well get something he can overclock(see upgradeable lol), and yeah no more Spanish or else I'll start replying in Greek(second language), then we'll have a real mess . Thanks.

Well he likely has an ATX case if it is a Pentium 133. Chances are you do not have much of a Power Supply. If the case is OK, then just get a new Power Supply.

Something simple like PCChip's M810LRM is a good integrated SocketA platform with integraded video, sound, modem, and network and supposadly supports 1.2+Ghz Athlnos and 266MHz bus (but not likely). The only problem is that it will not be out for at least a few more weeks. It is a Micro ATX board so it will fit in any case and should come in under $100. You could drop in a Duron 700 for $55, a FOP32-1 cooler for $20, a Sparkle AMD approve 250W PS for about $30 (or an FK-603 for $70 with a 250w AMD approved PS if you still want a new case).

That's $200 +shipping (or $250 with new case) and will include the PS (and case), motherboard, CPU, video, sound, network, modem, and cooler. I'd add 128MB SDRAM for about $40 and a case fan for about $10. Slap in a 48x CDR for $35 and a 20GB hard drive for $100 and your good to go.

Now if you really want to overclock and have some killer performance, |I'd deffinately get the FK-603 (or FK-320) case with an extra 92mm case fan, a GlobalWin FOP32-1, Abit KT7A, 128MB PC150 SDRAM, 20GB ATA100 drive, CD, Sound Blaster Live Value, GeForce2 MX, modem, and a 700Mhz Duron (or a 1Ghz Athlon) $700 (+$120 for Athlon upgrade) and about $30-50 for shipping. You could also get a GeForce2 GTS for an extra $80. You could finish it out with a good $50 speeker system and a memorex 3 button scrole mouse and internet keyboard and still fall in around $1000 total (for the Athlon 1Ghz with GTS). Just drop in a copy of Windows 98 and IE 5.5 and your good to go. This system would cost you at least $500-1000 more if you perchased it somewhere like Compaq or Gateway.

------------------
The COMPUTER is your FRIEND!
Happiness is manditory.

They list it as $58, but they list it though PriceWatch as %50. They also carry 64MB for $31. Thats under $100. You might even drop in a Voodoo3 PCI card for those 3D games (or flight sims) for another $90. If you use EDO memory you can still get 32MB for about $40. 56Kbaud modems only run about $15-20 if he does not have one already.

Is the motherboard a Socket5 or Socket7. If it is a Socket7, you might be able to drop in a Cyrix MII 300 or 333 for about $30.

------------------
The COMPUTER is your FRIEND!
Happiness is manditory.